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The lifeboat hit the water hard. Frank, sat in the small captain's chair, wrapped a hand around his abdomen. Blood stained his hands and soaked through his shirt, the wound was worse than he thought.
He glanced back at the lifeboat passengers. Robin and Tracy were together, arms wrapped around each other for comfort as they slept. Art, the Major, was sat beside them with his head back against the wall behind him. Frank smiled softly and tried to settle into his own seat but the pain emanating from his side was starting to get to him. He leaned his head back and closed his eyes, shutting out the sound of waves outside and the creaking metal of the lifeboat.
Frank's arm fell limp at his side catching Art's attention. He watched the detective carefully, eyeing his shallow breathing and pale features... Something was wrong. Slowly, to not wake the girls, Art stood from his seat and reached for Frank.
"Frank." He whispered, his hand on the detective's shoulder gently shaking him.
"Frankie." He whispered a little louder, still shaking the thin shoulder under his palm until Frank startled awake.
"Wa- what? What happened?" He sat up instinctively which resulted in sharp pain that made him wince breathlessly.
"You fell asleep..." Art trailed off looking down at the smaller man. Then he spotted it, the deep red stain on Frank's jersey.
"You're bleeding." Art reached a hand out but Frank stopped him short.
"Don't touch." Frank warned, "Please." his voice cracked making the words sound as hurt as he was.
Ignoring the warning, Art lifted the stained fabric uncovering a nasty wound. Frank grit his teeth and pressed his head back, willing away the pain.
"Christ." Art sighed looking at the gushing bullet hole.
"It's fine-" Frank spoke through still clenched teeth. He tried to pull the shirt back down but Art's hands didn't move.
"Like Hell." Art protested, he grabbed the jacket Frank had been wearing earlier and pressed it firmly on the wound. The response was gut wrenching but he couldn't linger on the pained noise being forced from the smaller man's lungs.
Art turned, best he could, to search the boat for a first aid kit. When he spotted the small bright red box he turned back to Frank.
"Hold this here." He ordered, carefully putting Frank's shaking hand on the bundled up jacket. The ship suddenly rocked violently to one side tossing everyone back and forth a few times.
Art regained his footing and retrieved the box before turning back to the detective's side. Once he had found the right materials he lifted the jacket off the wound. It wasn't bleeding as much but there was still a steady trickle of crimson. Art glanced up at Frank's face, he was pale and his eyes kept fluttering closed.
"You're going to be alright." Art spoke, if only to tell Frank that he was there. Frank looked down making eye contact with the Major, he nodded in acknowledgement.
Without warning, Art pressed a cold alcohol wipe on the wound. Frank hisses, his fists clenched to tight his knuckles turned white.
"It's alright." Art whispered, trying to be reassuring. He looked up at Frank's face again, attempting to read how the detective was holding up. His stomach twisted at the sight of the silent tears that ran down colorless cheeks.
The white clothes in his hand came back red as he tried to dab the dried blood away to clean the wound. Then all at once Frank relaxed, his head hung over his chest, eyes closed.
"Frankie, come on man, wake up." Art reached a hand up to pat Frank's cheek trying to wake him, but his eyes stayed closed. Art worked quickly to finish cleaning the wound and put a patch on it. Once he finished he stood and took Frank's face in his hands.
"Wake up Frank." He whispered, worry beginning to clench his heart in a cold fist. In a sudden panic Art pressed two fingers on Frank's neck checking for a pulse. It was there, steady but slow. When he looked back up the detective's face he saw Frank's eyes open slowly.
"Did you just check my pulse?" Frank asked slowly, a smile pulled at the corners of his lips.
"I thought-" Art started but decided to act instead. He leaned down and pressed his lips against the detective's. Frank made a surprised noise before kissing back. For an all to short moment, they were the only two things in the universe. Then the boat shook violently against a wave, the force knocked them out of the kiss. Art was about to reach for another when he heard his daughter call him. He quickly ran to her side and held her close, whispering to her how he'd never let her go. Frank smiled reminiscing the kiss in his own little world. Color returned to his cheeks as he let himself get lost in wonderful thoughts. All was well with the world.
-The End-